Evaluation Note / Esra Özpınar - Yasemin Satır Çilingir - Ayşegül Taşöz Düşündere

Integration of Syrian refugees living in Turkey to the labor market carries a risk with regards to social cohesion. According to TurkStat 2014 data, 68.8 percent of those aged over 6 years old in Turkey have a middle school or lower level education. Furthermore, according to AFAD 2014 report, 79.8 percent of the Syrian refugees of those aged over 6 years old have middle school or lower education. These numbers indicate that there is the possibility of local and refugee labor force with similar education levels to compete for jobs in the labor market. Therefore, the competition that will arise in the labor market as well as the consequent possibility of social conflicts must be taken into consideration, while discussing the integration of Syrians to Turkish society. This study discusses, the effects of Syrian refugees on regional employment levels, as well as social perceptions that may be influenced by these effects, and their importance with regards to social cohesion.